Seafair was named "Best Fair/Festival" at the Gala Awards presented by Special Events Magazine, the premier event industry publication.

"Over 5,000 people help make Seafair possible each year…from the volunteers to our sponsors, the family groups to our board members, our city partners to our interns - we share this award with them," said Beth Knox, President/CEO of Seafair. "It's a privilege to have the opportunity to bring the region together to celebrate our city, traditions and iconic elements each summer. We are honored the collective effort to produce the festival is being internationally recognized."

The Gala Awards, founded in 1986, recognize the finest work in special events worldwide.

"Seafair has been an important partof Seattle's culture for over 60 years. It's part of what makes Seattle special," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn."Congratulations on being recognized as the world's best festival!"

For the 2012 Gala Awards, the magazine received 340 entries in 34 categories from Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

“We Seattleites have proclaimed Seafair the nation’s best urban festival for some 60 years,” said Tom Norwalk, President & CEO of Visit Seattle. “We’re very proud that the rest of the world is celebrating Seafair along with us.”

Members of the Special Events Magazine Advisory Board, made up of leaders in the event profession, spent two days in October at the magazine’s offices in Pacific Palisades (Los Angeles), California, to select the finalists and winners. Nominated entries went through three rounds of judging.

For more on the Gala Awards and Special Events Magazine, visit specialevents.com.